Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
(CPAP) Exam 2022
CPAP - Answer- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure - Answer- Delivery of a constant positive
pressure to the airways of a spontaneously breathing patient throughout the
respiratory cycle
Is CPAP invasive? - Answer- No. Non-invasive way to help patient ventilation
As opposed to intubation which is invasive
Is the gas continuous? - Answer- Yes. The patient breathes with and against this
pressure
CPAP is similar to? - Answer- PEEP on mechanical ventilation
What does CPAP pressure during expiration do? - Answer- It prevents the lung from
collapsing
Benefits of CPAP - Answer- Helps to keep open airways and prevent collapse
Can reduce atelectasis
Increases the surface area available for gas exchange
Increases lung compliance (decreases stiffness)
atelectasis - Answer- Collapsed lung; incomplete expansion of alveoli
Has international use of CPAP been increasing or decreasing? - Answer- Recent
studies in past several years have shown great effectiveness of CPAP
These studies have led to much increased use of CPAP in USA, Europe, etc. in
recent years
In developed nations, CPAP is replacing intubation for critical neonatal patients
Is CPAP possible in a low cost setting? - Answer- Yes. Can give CPAP with low-cost
methods
What patients can be helped by CPAP? - Answer- Diseases causing restrictive lung
disease-
Pneumonia
Bronchiolitis
Prematurity/Hyaline Membrane Disease
Pulmonary complications of congestive heart failure
Post-severe lung injury
Shock→ decreases metabolic demand of breathing
Patients who are on mechanical ventilation
Earlier weaning from mechanical ventilation
Provide extra support after extubation to reduce risk of extubation failure
Upper airway problem (like obstructive apnea)
(CPAP) Exam 2022
CPAP - Answer- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure - Answer- Delivery of a constant positive
pressure to the airways of a spontaneously breathing patient throughout the
respiratory cycle
Is CPAP invasive? - Answer- No. Non-invasive way to help patient ventilation
As opposed to intubation which is invasive
Is the gas continuous? - Answer- Yes. The patient breathes with and against this
pressure
CPAP is similar to? - Answer- PEEP on mechanical ventilation
What does CPAP pressure during expiration do? - Answer- It prevents the lung from
collapsing
Benefits of CPAP - Answer- Helps to keep open airways and prevent collapse
Can reduce atelectasis
Increases the surface area available for gas exchange
Increases lung compliance (decreases stiffness)
atelectasis - Answer- Collapsed lung; incomplete expansion of alveoli
Has international use of CPAP been increasing or decreasing? - Answer- Recent
studies in past several years have shown great effectiveness of CPAP
These studies have led to much increased use of CPAP in USA, Europe, etc. in
recent years
In developed nations, CPAP is replacing intubation for critical neonatal patients
Is CPAP possible in a low cost setting? - Answer- Yes. Can give CPAP with low-cost
methods
What patients can be helped by CPAP? - Answer- Diseases causing restrictive lung
disease-
Pneumonia
Bronchiolitis
Prematurity/Hyaline Membrane Disease
Pulmonary complications of congestive heart failure
Post-severe lung injury
Shock→ decreases metabolic demand of breathing
Patients who are on mechanical ventilation
Earlier weaning from mechanical ventilation
Provide extra support after extubation to reduce risk of extubation failure
Upper airway problem (like obstructive apnea)
